How far apart should I plant Creeping baby’s breath?

About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–50 cm (12–20 in).

Does Creeping baby’s breath need full sun?

Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.

How much water does Creeping baby’s breath need?

Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.

How cold-hardy is Creeping baby’s breath?

It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.

When does Creeping baby’s breath flower?

From about June for 6–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).

Is Creeping baby’s breath poisonous to cats and dogs?

For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Contains saponins: eating it causes vomiting and diarrhoea in pets (ASPCA lists baby’s breath as toxic).

What grows well with Creeping baby’s breath?

There is no well-documented companion pairing for Creeping baby’s breath. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).

Creeping baby’s breath Gypsophila repens

Creeping baby’s breath (Gypsophila repens) is an evergreen perennial flowering plant in the Caryophyllaceae family, native to Mountains of central and southern Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians). It grows 10–20 cm (4–8 in) tall and 30–50 cm (12–20 in) wide, wants full sun and low water, and is hardy to about -32 °C (-26 °F). Space plants about 30 cm (12 in) apart.

Plan Creeping baby’s breath in your garden →
Free. Draw your beds, then watch it grow through the year in 2D and 3D.

Creeping baby’s breath at a glance

Type	Perennial flowering plant, evergreen
Family	Caryophyllaceae
Mature height	10–20 cm (4–8 in)
Mature spread	30–50 cm (12–20 in)
Spacing	30 cm (12 in) centre to centre
Sun	Full sun, at least 6 h of direct sun a day
Water	Low; drought tolerance high, waterlogging tolerance none
Soil pH	6.5–8.5
Cold hardiness	About -32 °C (-26 °F) once established (roughly USDA zone 4)
Heat stress	Likely above about 32 °C (90 °F)
Flowering	from about June for 6–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones)
Wind tolerance	Moderate
Pollinator value	Moderate
Edible	Not grown as food
Native to	Mountains of central and southern Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians)
Common in gardens of	🇬🇧 United Kingdom, 🇩🇪 Germany, 🇫🇷 France, 🇮🇹 Italy, 🇺🇸 United States, 🇨🇦 Canada

Is Creeping baby’s breath toxic?

People: mildly toxic
Cats: mildly toxic
Dogs: mildly toxic
Parts: all parts

Contains saponins: eating it causes vomiting and diarrhoea in pets (ASPCA lists baby’s breath as toxic).

If a child or pet may have eaten part of a plant, call a poison centre or vet straight away.

Companion planting: what to grow with Creeping baby’s breath

No well-documented helpful pairing. Group it with plants that like full sun and low water.

Questions about Creeping baby’s breath

How far apart should I plant Creeping baby’s breath?: About 30 cm (12 in) apart, centre to centre. A mature plant spreads 30–50 cm (12–20 in).
Does Creeping baby’s breath need full sun?: Full sun: at least 6 hours of direct sun a day.
How much water does Creeping baby’s breath need?: Low water. Drought tolerance is high and waterlogging tolerance none.
How cold-hardy is Creeping baby’s breath?: It tolerates about -32 °C (-26 °F) once established, roughly USDA zone 4.
When does Creeping baby’s breath flower?: From about June for 6–9 weeks (northern hemisphere; later in cold climates, earlier in warm ones).
Is Creeping baby’s breath poisonous to cats and dogs?: For cats it is mildly toxic; for dogs mildly toxic; for people mildly toxic. Contains saponins: eating it causes vomiting and diarrhoea in pets (ASPCA lists baby’s breath as toxic).
What grows well with Creeping baby’s breath?: There is no well-documented companion pairing for Creeping baby’s breath. Group it with plants that like the same sun (full sun) and water (low).

Sources and evidence

Evidence grade A (A: strong evidence).

Plants of the World Online (taxonomy, native range), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
RHS Find a Plant (plant profiles and growing guides), Royal Horticultural Society
ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, ASPCA

Notes and assumptions

A rock-garden plant: give it gritty, very free-draining soil, full light and a collar of gravel around the neck; winter wet kills it far more often than cold.
A low, spreading mat of grey-green, grassy leaves covered in summer with a haze of tiny white or pink flowers; it needs lime and dislikes being moved because of its deep taproot.

Reference values for planning, not horticultural, veterinary or medical advice. Varieties, soils and local climates differ: check with a local nursery or extension service.

Related plants

Sweet William Dianthus barbatus
Carnation Dianthus caryophyllus
China pink Dianthus chinensis
Snow-in-summer Cerastium tomentosum
Moss campion Silene acaulis
Soapwort (bouncing bet) Saponaria officinalis
Rock soapwort Saponaria ocymoides
Maiden pink Dianthus deltoides